The umpires signal stumps on Day 4, with Sarfraz Ahmed standing as the last barrier between the Sri Lankans and a convincing victory. While Sarfraz is 12 runs away from a heroic half-century while the hosts need just three more wickets, which would sound like a cake-walk for Rangana Herath, for the much-awaited win. It was definitely a day that was dominated by the bowlers, with 15 wickets being taken during the day’s proceedings in a bowling-friendly track.

Sri Lanka would look to wrap up with the victory as soon as possible in order to make it a memorable send-off for Jayawardene.

Pakistan: 122/7 I Overs 37.5

Sarfraz Ahmed 35(56), Wahab Riaz 0(0)

OUT! Abdur Rehman lbw Perera 5(10)

Seven down for Pakistan! The hosts can sniff the victory from here. This time it is Dilruwan Perera who strikes, with a delivery that hit Rehman on the front pad and was in line with the stumps. Wahab Riaz comes out to bat and it will be interesting if Angelo Mathews decided to introduce Dhammika Prasad into the attack at this stage, given the tussle the two pacers have had earlier in the day.

Pakistan: 105/6 I Overs 34.4

Sarfraz Ahmed 24(47), Abdur Rehman 0(0)

OUT! Asad Shafiq st Dickwella b Herath 32(62)

Herath ensures he is the one to play spoiler to the Sarfraz-Shafiq partnership that had just begun to do the damage-control. The wily left-arm orthodox spinner picks his fourth wicket with the end of day’s play not very far off from this point.

Pakistan: 84/5 I Overs 30

Asad Shafiq 20(50), Sarfraz Ahmed 16(31)

The visitors still need 187 runs with just five wickets remaining. Sarfraz and Shafiq hope to remain at the crease till the end of play of the fourth day and the umpires check the light to see if it is permissible for further play.

Pakistan: 68/5 I Overs 25

Asad Shafiq 11(33), Sarfraz Ahmed 9(18)

The last recognised Pakistani pair are starting to settle down a bit and need to handle the bowlers with utmost care. Their only aim at the moment would be to remain unbeaten till the end of day’s play, which is around 30 minutes away. The Sri Lankans on the other hand might be contemplating a victory by the end of the day!

Pakistan: 50/5 I Overs 18.1

Asad Shafiq 6(10), Sarfraz Ahmed 0(0)

OUT! Younis Khan lbw b Herath 8(30)

Third wicket for Rangana Herath! Younis attempts a sweep only to miss it. The ball hits him on his back thigh and the replays show the decision to be plumb. The left-arm orthodox spinner is now on a roll, having picked his sixth over after having conceded just 15 runs. Half the Pakistani side is back to the pavilion and their last hopes are that of a rescue effort by first innings centurion Sarfraz Ahmed and Asad Shafiq. Herath meanwhile looks capable of removing the remaining side single-handedly in no time at all.

Pakistan: 39/4 I Overs 14.3

Younis Khan 3(18), Asad Shafiq 0(0)

OUT! Misbah-ul-Haq c Jayawardene b Herath 3(11)

Herath picks his fourth and the tourists are now reeling, having lost four wicket for a mere 39 runs. The ball drifts away from off-stump and Misbah manages to edge it to Jayawardene, rated as one of the best slip fielders in the world. The predictions of a Pakistani collapse given the conditions are fast turning out to be true.

Pakistan: 31/3 I Overs 10.2

Younis Khan 1(4), Misbah-ul-Haq

OUT! Azhar Ali c Jayawardene b Herath 10(30)

Pakistan lose their third-wicket with just 31 runs on the board and this time it is Herath who does the damage. It is official now. Pakistan are in deep trouble. Azhar edges the inward delivery towards the slips, where Mahela Jayawardene collects a simple catch. The field now has two of the most experienced Pakistani batsmen and they have to counter the Lankan tide if they are to keep their hopes of a victory alive at the moment. Tenth wicket of the match and the first of the second innings for Rangana Herath.

Pakistan: 21/2 I Overs 5.5

Azhar Ali 0(0), Younis Khan 0(0)

OUT! Ahmed Shehzad lbw Prasad 8(16)

The warning bells have begun to make their ominous sound in the Pakistani camp as the second opener departs with a single-digit score after getting his front pad in the ball’s path towards the leg stump. Shehzad thinks of going for the review, but retracts in the last moment.

With just 21 runs on the board for the loss of two wickets, Azhar, Younis and Misbah have a major responsiblity on their hands building partnerships in the middle overs and preventing a catastrophic collapse.

Pakistan: 17/1 I Overs 3.4

Ahmed Shehzad 6(9), Azhar Ali 0(0)

OUT! Khurram Manzoor c Dickwella b Prasad 10(13)

Poor shot by Manzoor, who attempts to drive a delivery that was rather wide of the off-stump and ends up nicking it to Dickwella. Not good at all for the visitors. A decent start is a crucial aspect of any run-chase and the openers have failed precisely at that.

Pakistan: 0/0 I Overs 0.0

Khurram Manzoor 0(0), Ahmed Shehzad 0(0)

The Pakistani openers walk out to bat and will hope to give their side a good start like they did in the first innings. Though the target of 270 seems very gettable, the visiting batsmen have to be cautious of the decieving conditions that got the better of the Sri Lankan batsmen.

Sri Lanka: 282 I Overs 107.4

Angelo Mathews 43(113)

OUT! Chanaka Welegedera run out (Wahab Riaz) 0(2)

The Lankan innings finally comes to an end! What a turnaround by the Pakistanis, who restricted Sri Lanka, who were at one-stage looking at a score of more than 400, to a total of 282. The pick of the bowlers were Wahab Riaz and Saeed Ajmal who picked three wickets each for 76 and 89 runs respectively. Pakistan have been set a target of 271 runs, which they will start chasing after the Tea break.

Sri Lanka: 282/9 I Overs 107.4

Angelo Mathews 43(113), Chanaka Welegedera 0(0)

OUT! Rangana Herath b Riaz 0(4)

The hosts are now just one-wicket away from getting bowled out. Spectacular bowling displayed by the Wahab Riaz as he bowls a yorker that goes between Herath’s bat and foot and crashes into the base of the stumps. Mathews has to try his level best now if he intends to give Pakistan a target of more than 300.

Sri Lanka: 278/8 I Overs 106.1

Angelo Mathews 39(109), Rangana Herath 0(0)

OUT! Dhammika Prasad run out (Umar Akmal) 19 (40)

Prasad’s entertaining innings comes to an end, a delivery after he smashed Ajmal for a giant six over long-on. Pats the ball and stays at the crease, but Mathews insists on a single. The risky single turns fatal for Prasad, who was well-short of his crease at the time.

Sri Lanka: 265/7 I Overs 105

Angelo Mathews 38(108), Dhammika Prasad 8(33)

The lead has now crossed the 250-run mark, though it certainly is not enough for the hosts. Prasad, who recieved a few blows on his head courtesy short-pitched deliveries by Riaz, is starting to look more settled at the crease now and is starting to play a few strokes. The new ball will be introduced in the next over and that should be the start of another Riaz spell.

Sri Lanka: 253/7 I Overs 100

Angelo Mathews 32(94), Dhammika Prasad 2(17)

The lead has now reached 241 runs. Wahab Riaz has been taken off the attack by Misbah-ul-Haq for the time being and it will be a complete spin show for the next few overs.

Sri Lanka: 247/7 I Overs 95.3

Angelo Mathews 28(84), Dhammika Prasad 0(0)

OUT! Dilruwan Perera lbw Riaz 0(2)

Wahab Riaz strikes again in two balls! This time removes Perera for a second-ball duck, the latter’s second in as many innings! The disciplined efforts of Riaz is starting to pay off finally as the Lankans are in serious trouble now. Another nicely tossed inswinger that wass destined to rattle the Perera’s leg-stump but was stopped by the batsman’s front pad. Perera decides to review but to no avail and walks back to the pavilion with a pair in this match. It all comes down to Angelo Mathews, who must lead the way for a recovery for the hosts. He however, is losing out on support on the other end.

Sri Lanka: 247/6 I Overs 95.1

Angelo Mathews 28(84), Dilruwan Perera 0(0)

OUT! Niroshan Dickwella lbw Riaz 21(41)

The hosts lose their sixth as the situation is fast turning critical for Mathews and co. Riaz bowls a good length delivery traps Dickwella on the backpad and was headed to crash between the off and middle stumps. No review needed for this.

Sri Lanka: 247/5 I Overs 95

Angelo Mathews 28(84), Niroshan Dickwella 21(40)

Play resumes after Lunch. Mathews and Dickwella have been dished out a few unexpected turners by Ajmal and there were a couple of chances created in those deliveries, but have managed to play cautiosly. Short leg in place now.

Sri Lanka: 234/5 I Overs 90

Angelo Mathews 24(69), Niroshan Dickwella 13(31)

And its Lunch on Day 4! The players walk back to the pavilion with a 222-run lead while Pakistan are full of confidence at the moment. The dismissals in the morning have helped bring the balance back into the game, which was turning out to be a no-contest at stumps yesterday. Given the nature of the pitch, Ajmal and company will be looking to bag a few more dismissals including the big wicket of skipper Angelo Mathews.

Sri Lanka: 224/5 I Overs 87

Angelo Mathews 19(59), Niroshan Dickwella 8(17)

Ajmal is still looking dangerous with the uneven bounce and the surprises that he keeps throwing in every now and then. With less than half an hour left for the session to end, the hosts will hope to resume after lunch with five wickets in hand. The lead in the mean time has reach 212 runs.

Sri Lanka: 212/5 I Overs 82.3

Angelo Mathews 11(32), Niroshan Dickwella 0(0)

OUT! Lahiru Thirimanne b Ajmal 10(45)

Ajmal gets his third of the morning and is doing a Herath at the moment. Bowled a brilliant Doosra which pitched slowly outside the off-stump which Thirimanne tried to play for the off-break and missed the line completely as the ball went between the bat and pad. The Lankans are starting to lose wickets at an alarming pace now and need a major partnership at the moment if they are to post a big total and give Pakistan a challenging target. The lead for Sri Lanka crosses 200 in the mean time.

Sri Lanka: 203/4 I Overs 78

Angelo Mathews 11(32), Lahiru Thirimanne 5(35)

The new faces at the crease are slowly getting settled at the crease. The pitch in the meantime is behaving exactly as predicted by Dean Jones and is causing a lot of discomfort to the batsmen by causing the ball to behave in unpredictably. The Pakistanis are now elated at the thought of having dismissed two of the most dangerous batsmen in the Lankan roster and are fired up at the moment. Saeed Ajmal will be looking to cash in on the conditions and get a few more wickets in the process.

Sri Lanka: 189/4 I Overs 68.2

Angelo Mathews 2(9), Lahiru Thirimanne 0(0)

OUT! Mahela Jayawardene c Shehzad b Ajmal 54(137)

And the last innings of one of Sri Lanka’s greatest batsmen comes to an end. Mahela dances down the track attempting to smash Ajmal over mid-on, but ends up mistiming it and sends it high up in the air to give Ahmed Shehzad an easy catch at mid-wicket. Lahiru Thirimanne walks out to bat and he will now be sharing the responsibility of taking the team forward from the double blows that Pakistan have inflicted on the hosts this morning.

Sri Lanka have never lost a home Test in which Sangakkara-Jayawardene pair has forged a century partnership! 8 wins & 4 draws!! #SLvPak

Pakistan finally manage to bring the curtains down the final partnership between the legendary pair. Good catch taken at silly point after the ball stays low and Sangakkara tries to defend it. Sangakkara hugs his long-time partner before returning to the pavilion amidts cheers from the crowd. Angelo Mathews walks out to the middle in the meantime.

Sri Lanka: 185/2 I Overs 64.4

Kumar Sangakkara 58(126), Mahela Jayawardene 53(128)

And Jayawardene completes his fifty in his final Test innings. The maestro has batted fabulously so far and looks in great touch. A century should make this innings and match a farewell to remember.

Sri Lanka: 179/2 I Overs 63.2

Kumar Sangakkara 56(123), Mahela Jayawardene 49(123)

The century partnership between the legendary pair is up and this happens to be the 19th such partnership between the two close friends. They are just one century ton shy of matching the world record currently held by Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar

Sri Lanka: 177/2 I Overs 63

Kumar Sangakkara 54(121), Mahela Jayawardene 49(123)

And the players arrive at the ground, ready for some mouth-watering action on the fourth day of the final Test. All eyes will be on the Sri Lankan pair at the crease, on whom the Sri Lankan hopes of a big total and a substantial lead are pinned. The Sinhalese Sports Club is decked in the maroon and white, the official colours of Jayawardene’s alma mater Nalanda College

The pitch is starting to show a lot of signs of wear and tear which will cause the ball to behave unexpectedly and cause some discomfort to the batsmen. Pakistan need to take some urgent wickets in the first session if they are to stay in the game.

Sri Lanka were cruising at 177 for the loss of two wickets at the end of play on the third day of the second and final Test against Pakistan on Saturday at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene were at the crease at stumps batting at 54 and 49 respectively. The day began with Pakistan resuming their overnight score of 244 for six. All eyes were on Sarfraz and Herath from the opposite camps, both of whom had the major share of the team’s expectations resting on their shoulders. Sarfraz was without a set partner after having lost Asad Shafiq barely minutes before the end of play on the previous day. The highlight of the morning session was the close contest between Sarfraz and Herath. While Sarfraz kept thwarting the latter, who had dismissed half the side on the previous day. After a lot of huffs and puffs, the Karachi-born right-hander reached a well-deserved century which was brought up in style when he hit a four and a six off consecutive deliveries by Chanaka Welegedera. Hi, I am Amit Banerjee and I will be bringing you CricketCountry’s live updates of the fourth day’s play. Complete coverage of Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka 2014

First Published on August 17, 2014, 8:52 amLast updated on August 17, 2014, 5:57 pm